Cruise News
Silversea Adds More Adventure L
John Honeywell, aka Captain Greybeard, reports on the very latest addition to the Silversea fleet
uxury cruise line SILVERSEA is adding a third vessel to its expedition fleet. The company, which operates
Silver Explorer and this month begins sailings of Silver Galapagos, has acquired the 128-passenger Clipper Odyssey. And, after a multi-million upgrade, the 5,200-ton vessel will be re-launched on March 1 next year as Silver Discoverer. Its first cruises in 2014 will be to the spectacular Kimberley coastal region of Western Australia from the port of Broome, and from Darwin. Its later voyages will take it to Bali and Taipei, to the Russian Pacific, and on to Alaska. The itineraries for 2015 will include an extended season in the Kimberleys, a return to Alaska and visits to South Pacific islands, including Tahiti and Samoa. The ship was originally built in Japan in
1989 and has also sailed as Oceanic Odyssey and Oceanic Grace. In recent years it was operated by Zegrahm Expeditions and also marketed by Noble Caledonia. It has four public decks and carries Zodiacs for expedition use. All accommo- dation is in outside cabins, which have a shower and deep half-sized bathtub. There is a small pool on the Lido deck
and Silversea’s improvements will include an expansion of the gym and the beauty and massage centre, although they do not go as far as claiming it will be a spa. UK Marketing Director Mike Bonner said:
“This is an exciting development and once we have converted the ship to our standards, she will be a worthy addition to the fleet.” Silver Galapagos – the former Galapagos Explorer II – sails its first cruise under the Silversea flag on September 28.
AND FIRST FEMALE CAPTAIN
For the first time in its near 20-year history, a female captain is at the helm of a SILVERSEA ship after the line promoted Margrith Ettlin to the position of captain.
The Swiss national has extensive maritime experience in remote regions, including the Arctic and Antarctica, and assumed control of the 132-guest Silver Explorer on August 7 in Reykjavik. Her first tour of duty as captain will extend into October. Christian Sauleau, Silversea’s executive vice president of fleet operations, said:
10 WORLD OF CRUISING I Autumn 2013
“We’re pleased and proud to extend this promotion to Captain Ettlin. Although we’re not the first cruise company to have a female captain, we hope Captain Ettlin’s achievement will inspire other women to pursue careers at sea.” Prior to joining Silversea as a staff captain
in March 2010, Captain Ettlin worked for Germany’s F. Laeisz shipping group. Her maritime career also includes nearly nine years as a staff captain with German shipping company Hapag Lloyd.
It will be operating alternating seven-night itineraries. Make sure to read the Captain’s full column on Page 60.
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